Shiravaku Sculpture Picture

This sculpture was made for my World Mythology class this past quarter. The project was left completely open to us, so we could basically do anything we wanted. I chose to make my own demon/monster/mythological creature inspired by other existing demons. We had to read this book in class, "A Field Guide to Demons" (it actually had a longer title, but I don't have the book with me at the moment). In the book, it seperates different demons all around the world by region. So it goes Water, Mountain, Desert, Forest, and so on. Each chapter contains different demons specific to that area. And they aren't just "demons," really, just mythological creatures (mermaids, fairies, and so on). Each demon had his own different section, but each section was broken down into a paragraph describing the demon, then "lore," or stories about him/her, and finally "dispelling and disarming techniques," or ways in which one may escape a threatening demon (the book made it sound as though these demons were real today....but who's to say they're not?).

After finishing my sculpture of Shiravaku, I decided to create my own "chapter" for him. So basically, the following information was what I turned in as a written statement for him. It was meant to sound as though it came straight out of my demon field guide book. So excuse the strange tone and format. The beginning of the story, the part about Tiamat and Marduk and the Babylonian Epic of Creation was NOT created by me. That's the way the myth really goes. They never explain what Tiamat's heart was used for, so that's when I jumped in and added Shiravaku. Anyway, this is another good example of my sculpture work. And yes, he took many many hours to complete, but was a lot of fun to work on. And just like Colby, I've become pretty attached to him. Look for more artwork featuring Shiravaku in the future. :3

Shiravaku and all his information are (C) Me, S.Ideno/Quaylak

ShiravakuMesopotamia

Shiravaku, guardian of matrimony, was born of the dragon Tiamat. His birth was part of the Babylonian “Epic of Creation,” though few books today have any information documented about this lost forest demon. He has a long, serpentine body with the hind end and face of a wolf, forebody and legs of a cock, and mane of a horse. More common depictions of this demon also reveal three horns upon his head.

Lore
During the Epic of Creation, Marduk, the solar god and great-great-grandson of Tiamat, challenged her dominion over the world. They waged a mighty war upon each other, Tiamat sending forth the most horrific of demons to attack Marduk. Yet the hero skillfully captured Tiamat within a net and sent “evil winds” towards her. Mouth agape, she attempted to swallow these winds, yet they were too powerful. Her jaws were forced to stay open and her belly inflated with air. Marduk was able to enter her mouth and journey within her body. There, he saw a terrible army of snakes and demons waiting to be sent forth. Before they were able to attack the intruder, Marduk pulled forth his bow and arrow and shot Tiamat’s heart. The pumping muscle split in two, killing her. After crushing her skull with a mace, Marduk went about creating the world from Tiamat’s body. He split her in half to create the earth and sky. Her eyes were used to create two rivers, her saliva formed rain and clouds. Yet Marduk had forgotten about her split heart.

From one half sprang a dragon named Shira, and from the other came her brother, Shiravaku. They were twin dragon demons, brother and sister, and later, husband and wife. Both lived in peace within the forested realms of Marduk’s newly created earth, until of course, he discovered their whereabouts. Furious that they had sprung forth from the heart of his slain enemy (without his wishing so), he hunted the pair and was determined to destroy them both. One sunny afternoon, Marduk hid himself within a tree above a forest pool, where he waited for the pair to venture forth for a drink. He had poured a river’s worth of poison into the pool, tainting it and assuring that any beast who drank of its waters would surely die. Shira was the first to appear and the first to lap at the polluted waters. The poison raced through her body, forcing her organs to shrivel into ash. Within moments, she was dead, her body destroyed internally. Shiravaku appeared soon after and upon seeing his deceased mate, cried out in anger and sorrow. The roar was so loud that mountains crumbled and leaves upon the trees fell. Marduk’s location was revealed, as was the bottomless jar he’d used to house the poison dumped into the pond. Before Shiravaku was able to attack, Marduk became the wind and flew over the crumbled mountains. He knew the dragon’s fury was considerable. Shiravaku pledged to avenge the death of his mate and destroy Marduk.

Presently, this demon resides solely within forests and valleys. The most common place one may catch a glimpse of Shiravaku is near forest pools deep. It is said that he guards these locations and awaits the return of Marduk.

Dispelling and Disarming Techniques
He is called the guardian of matrimony because of his undying devotion to his mate, Shira. One way in which to anger this demon is to be unfaithful to your spouse or defile the sacred bond of matrimony. Should you encounter Shiravaku with the guilt of adultery plaguing your mind, then there are few ways in which to escape this demon’s wrath. Those who have been faithful to their partners should not fear Shiravaku and will pass through any forest he inhabits without harm. Any who have not found partners or experienced love may defer his attention by carrying water with them. This demon has a natural dislike of water, for he fears it may contain the poison that killed his mate.